Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, Pennsylvania State Police Drug Law Enforcement Division East Commander Lt. Jeffrey P. Dombrosky and other local, state and federal law enforcement officials announced on November 2nd the dismantling of a significant drug trafficking organization that was distributing heroin, cocaine and other illegal drugs in Montgomery, Philadelphia and Chester counties. One of the participating local law enforcement agencies was the Plymouth Township Police Department.

From the announcement:

The investigation involved the use of electronic surveillance, visual surveillance, fixed surveillance, search warrants, court orders, controlled purchases of narcotics, use of confidential sources, and analysis of recorded phone calls at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility and the Pennsylvania Corrections system.

On Sept. 25, 3018, multiple search warrants were obtained and served on the residences, vehicles and persons of the eight major traffickers. Search warrants yielded a significant number of bags of heroin; varying amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine; pills such as oxycodone, Klonopin and Clonazepam; and methamphetamine, much of which is still undergoing testing and weighing at National Medical Services laboratory. Twenty-four handguns, long guns and an AK-47 were also seized. Also seized was drug cutting agents, drug-packaging materials and more than $17,000 in cash.

Eight leaders of the drug trafficking organization were arrested Nov. 1: George King, 50, Foster B. Moore, 47, and Richard Rivera, 42, all of Philadelphia; Jeron Boggs, 28, Marcellus Bowie Sr., 49, John King, 54, and Romelle McClellan, 29, all of Norristown; and Larry Baird Jr., 60, of Phoenixville. Each defendant was charged with multiple felonies related to drug trafficking including Corrupt Organizations, Possession With Intent to Deliver, Conspiracy to Commit Possession With Intent to Deliver, Dealing in the Proceeds of Unlawful Activities and Criminal Use of a Communications Facility, as well as other related charges. George King was charged with Person Not to Possess a Firearm. Eleven other individuals are also being charged with various drug trafficking and possession charges.

These eight defendants were arraigned today before Magisterial District Judge Margaret A. Hunsicker, who set bail at $500,000 cash for George King and Rivera; $250,000 cash for Boggs; $150,000 cash on Bowie and McClellan; $100,000 cash on Baird and John King; and $150,000 on Moore. Bowie, McClellan and Moore posted bail. All other defendants were unable to post bail and remain in Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for the defendants at noon, Nov. 16, 2018 before Judge Hunsicker.

“This is another case of these men peddling poison to those suffering from addiction— all in the name of greed,” said DA Steele. “George King, who was reportedly moving 75 to 100 bundles of heroin a week along with cocaine, was the center of it all, and he was being supplied by Rivera and Moore. By taking these three major drug traffickers and their five other lieutenants off the street, as well as locking up their lower-level dealers, we have once again cut off a major source of heroin in Montgomery County and hopefully have made a dent in the region’s drug pipeline. This multi-agency investigation that put these dealers out of commission is just one way we are working to make a difference in the heroin-opioid epidemic in Montgomery County.”

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant Chief of the Trials Division Lauren Heron and Assistant District Attorney Lindsey Mills.